Patents by Inventor Stephen K. Kramer

Stephen K. Kramer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11725823
    Abstract: A combustor with a centerline is provided that includes a support structure and a heat shield. The heat shield extends circumferentially about and axially along the centerline. The heat shield is configured from or otherwise includes ceramic material. The heat shield is mounted to the support structure by an interlocking joint connection. The interlocking joint connection includes a projection and a groove. The projection is configured with the support structure and includes a plurality of fingers arranged along and projecting into the groove. The groove is formed in the heat shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen K. Kramer
  • Patent number: 11692486
    Abstract: Methods for manufacturing combustor panels of gas turbine engines and combustor panels are described. The methods include defining a particle deposit near-steady state for at least a portion of a combustor panel, the particle deposit near-steady state representative of a build-up of particles on the at least a portion of the combustor panel during use, generating a template based on the defined particle deposit near-steady state, wherein the template includes one or more augmentation elements based on the representative of build-up of particles, and forming a combustor panel based on the template, wherein the formed combustor panel includes one or more augmentation elements defined in the template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen K. Kramer, Brian Knisely, Eric DeShong, Shawn Siroka, Ivan Monge-Concepcion
  • Patent number: 11692493
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a first spool associated with a diffuser and a primary combustor and a second spool associated with a secondary combustor. The first spool includes a first compressor and a first turbine mounted to a first shaft, and the second spool includes a second compressor and a second turbine mounted to a second shaft. An inlet duct fluidly connects the diffuser to the second compressor. An outlet duct assembly fluidly connects the second turbine to the diffuser and the primary combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Paul R. Hanrahan, Stephen K. Kramer, Daniel B. Kupratis
  • Publication number: 20230103612
    Abstract: Methods for manufacturing combustor panels of gas turbine engines and combustor panels are described. The methods include defining a particle deposit near-steady state for at least a portion of a combustor panel, the particle deposit near-steady state representative of a build-up of particles on the at least a portion of the combustor panel during use, generating a template based on the defined particle deposit near-steady state, wherein the template includes one or more augmentation elements based on the representative of build-up of particles, and forming a combustor panel based on the template, wherein the formed combustor panel includes one or more augmentation elements defined in the template.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Eric DeShong, Brian Knisely, Shawn Siroka, Ivan Monge-Concepcion, Stephen K. Kramer
  • Patent number: 11466857
    Abstract: A self-pumping fuel injector includes a pump and a motor for, in-part, delivering fuel to a combustor at higher fuel pressures during start-up and ramping-up conditions. Each pump may include a stationary flow interuptor that intermittently and variably supplies fuel to a rotating spindle that, in-turn, expels the fuel into a nozzle of the injector for improve fuel spray distributions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Ken F. Blaney, Stephen K. Kramer
  • Publication number: 20220275942
    Abstract: A combustor with a centerline is provided that includes a support structure and a heat shield. The heat shield extends circumferentially about and axially along the centerline. The heat shield is configured from or otherwise includes ceramic material. The heat shield is mounted to the support structure by an interlocking joint connection. The interlocking joint connection includes a projection and a groove. The projection is configured with the support structure and includes a plurality of fingers arranged along and projecting into the groove. The groove is formed in the heat shield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2022
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventor: Stephen K. Kramer
  • Patent number: 11365680
    Abstract: Methods for manufacturing combustor panels of gas turbine engines and combustor panels are described. The methods include defining a particle deposit near-steady state for at least a portion of a combustor panel, the particle deposit near-steady state representative of a build-up of particles on the at least a portion of the combustor panel during use, generating a template based on the defined particle deposit near-steady state, wherein the template includes one or more augmentation elements based on the representative of build-up of particles, and forming a combustor panel based on the template, wherein the formed combustor panel includes one or more augmentation elements defined in the template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric DeShong, Brian Knisely, Shawn Siroka, Ivan Monge-Concepcion, Stephen K. Kramer
  • Patent number: 11326775
    Abstract: A fuel injector providing a flow of fuel having a variable swirl and/or variable effective area is disclosed. The fuel injector may have a nozzle defining a mixing chamber having an outlet proximate a centerline of the mixing chamber, a first fuel line in fluid communication with the mixing chamber and a second fuel line in fluid communication with the mixing chamber. The first fuel line may terminate in a tangential fuel inlet positioned tangential to the centerline of the nozzle, while the second fuel line may terminate in a radial fuel inlet positioned radial to the centerline of the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Stephen K. Kramer
  • Patent number: 11255547
    Abstract: A combustor liner panel attachment assembly includes a liner extending from a first end to a second end, and circumferentially to partially define a combustion zone. The assembly also includes a spring element located adjacent to a portion of the liner and operatively coupled to a stationary structure, the spring element having a recessed segment. The assembly further includes a protrusion feature extending radially outwardly from the liner, the protrusion feature disposed within the recessed segment of the spring element to axially retain the liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin W. White, Stephen K. Kramer
  • Patent number: 11215367
    Abstract: A combustor with a centerline is provided that includes a support structure and a heat shield. The heat shield extends circumferentially about and axially along the centerline. The heat shield is configured from or otherwise includes ceramic material. The heat shield is mounted to the support structure by an interlocking joint connection. The interlocking joint connection includes a projection and a groove. The projection is configured with the support structure and includes a plurality of fingers arranged along and projecting into the groove. The groove is formed in the heat shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen K. Kramer
  • Patent number: 11199329
    Abstract: A combustor liner panel attachment assembly includes a liner extending from a first end to a second end, and circumferentially to partially define a combustion zone. The assembly also includes a spring element located adjacent to a portion of the liner and operatively coupled to a stationary structure, the spring element having a recessed segment. The assembly further includes a protrusion feature extending radially outwardly from the liner, the protrusion feature disposed within the recessed segment of the spring element to axially retain the liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin W. White, Stephen K. Kramer
  • Patent number: 11181005
    Abstract: An assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a vane assembly having an inner platform and an airfoil section extending from the inner platform. A first combustor panel extends at least partially along the vane from upstream of the vane, and a blade outer air seal extends at least partially along the vane from downstream of the vane. The first combustor panel and the blade outer air seal define a platform gap located between a leading edge of the airfoil section of the vane and a trailing edge of the airfoil section of the vane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark F. Zelesky, Stephen K. Kramer
  • Patent number: 11156363
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine component assembly including: a first component having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; and a second component having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface of the second component, and a plurality of pin fins extending away from the second surface of the second component, the first surface of the first component and the second surface of the second component defining a cooling channel therebetween, wherein the plurality of pin fins extend into the cooling channel, wherein each of the plurality of pin fins have a pointed ellipse shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen K. Kramer, Ryan Lundgreen, Robin Prenter
  • Publication number: 20210317785
    Abstract: A cooling system includes an inlet, a passageway, and a feed passage. The inlet is defined by a strut of a diffuser case that extends between a first case portion and a second case portion. The inlet extends from a leading surface towards a trailing surface along a first axis. The passageway is defined by the strut and extends from the inlet towards the second case portion along a second axis that is disposed transverse to the first axis. The feed passage is defined between a body of a tangential onboard injection system that extends between and is connected to an inner vane platform of a guide vane and the second case portion. The feed passage extends along an axis that is disposed parallel to the first axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Enzo DiBenedetto, Anthony R. Bifulco, William K. Ackermann, Paul E. Coderre, John H. Mosley, Stephen K. Kramer
  • Patent number: 11112114
    Abstract: Combustor panels of gas turbine engines and gas turbine engines are described. The combustor panels include a hot side configured to be exposed to combustion within a gas turbine engine, a cold side opposite the hot side of the combustor panel, the cold side configured to receive cooling flow thereon, and a peak-valley gridded pattern formed on the cold side, the peak-valley gridded pattern comprising a plurality of recessed cells arranged in a grid pattern, with each recessed cell having a peak, angled sidewalls, and an effusion hole located at a bottom of the angled sidewalls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas Pritchard, Stephen K. Kramer
  • Patent number: 11060463
    Abstract: A combustor section of a gas turbine engine includes a combustor having a combustor inlet, and a combustor bypass passage having a passage inlet located upstream of the combustor inlet, the combustor bypass passage configured to divert a selected bypass airflow around the combustor. A combustor bypass valve is located at the combustor bypass passage to control the selected bypass airflow along the combustor bypass passage. The combustor bypass valve including a valve element configured to rotate about an engine central longitudinal axis A to move one or more valve openings relative to one or more bypass passage openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Anton G. Banks, Stephen K. Kramer
  • Publication number: 20210102705
    Abstract: A combustor with a centerline is provided that includes a support structure and a heat shield. The heat shield extends circumferentially about and axially along the centerline. The heat shield is configured from or otherwise includes ceramic material. The heat shield is mounted to the support structure by an interlocking joint connection. The interlocking joint connection includes a projection and a groove. The projection is configured with the support structure and includes a plurality of fingers arranged along and projecting into the groove. The groove is formed in the heat shield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventor: Stephen K. Kramer
  • Patent number: 10941937
    Abstract: A gasket for installation within a cavity between a support shell and a liner panel of a combustor wall assembly, the support shell having a multiple of impingement holes, and the liner panel having a multiple of film holes, the gasket including a multiple of cells arranged with respect to the multiple of impingement holes and the multiple of film holes, wherein at least one of the multiple of cells segregate a respective subset of the multiple of impingement holes and a subset of the multiple of film holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen K. Kramer, Jose E. Ruberte Sanchez
  • Patent number: 10935431
    Abstract: A sensor system for use in a gas turbine engine. The sensor system includes a reflective surface configured to reflect optical features corresponding to combustion in a combustion chamber that exit the combustion chamber via at least one opening therein. The sensor system further includes an optical sensor configured to receive the reflected optical features from the reflective surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Stephen K. Kramer
  • Publication number: 20210025327
    Abstract: Methods for manufacturing combustor panels of gas turbine engines and combustor panels are described. The methods include defining a particle deposit near-steady state for at least a portion of a combustor panel, the particle deposit near-steady state representative of a build-up of particles on the at least a portion of the combustor panel during use, generating a template based on the defined particle deposit near-steady state, wherein the template includes one or more augmentation elements based on the representative of build-up of particles, and forming a combustor panel based on the template, wherein the formed combustor panel includes one or more augmentation elements defined in the template.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Eric DeShong, Brian Knisely, Shawn Siroka, Ivan Monge-Concepcion, Stephen K. Kramer